Also known as Dino Martin, he rose to fame as the suave on-set partner of Jerry Lewis and member of the Rat Pack. Dean Martin was a household name in the film and music industry during his time. Dubbed as the King of Cool, Martin went on to become a famed singer and actor who worked alongside veteran musician Frank Sinatra.

Dino Martin died on Christmas morning in 1995 from an acute respiratory failure.

A Star Is Born

Born as the youngest of two siblings from Italian immigrants on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, Martin grew up with an inclination to music. Growing up, he learned to play the drums as a hobby. He was born as Dino Paul Crocetti, the younger brother of Bill Crocetti. Martin was also the nephew of famed stand-up comedian Leonard Barr.

Growing up, he was bullied for his broken English due to his Italian upbringing when he was attending Grant School. He gradually overcame this and enrolled at Steubenville High School and eventually dropped out during the 10th grade.

From there, he took up a series of odd jobs to support himself. Dino Martin smuggled alcohol during times of alcohol ban and worked at a steel mill and also as a speakeasy and even took on boxing as a welterweight boxer. As a boxer, he was known under the name of "Kid Crochet".

Dino Martin broke his nose due to boxing but in return, he managed to associate himself with local club owners who hired him for gigs later on.

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A Step To Showbiz

It was during one of his gigs at local bars did he find his opportunity at a start in the showbiz industry. Martin was 17 when he started singing in local nightclubs at his hometown and met Sammy Watkins, the bandleader of Cleveland.

Watkins liked his voice and hired him as a featured vocalist of the band. From there, he began touring with the band for two years starting in 1938 wherein he also started to adopt the name "Dean Martin" to himself.

Martin's tour with Cleveland gave him the opportunity to make a name for himself that he signed with MCA for an exclusive contract in 1943, three years after the band's tour.

The contract stated that Dino Martinis to sing in New York at Riobamba Room. A year after, he was given his own segment in the radio known as Songs by Dean Martin that ran for 15 minutes and broadcasted across New York City that followed a contract signing in 1946 from Diamond Records. He recorded four songs under their label.

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